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TEHRAN: Iran’s Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared a military and political victory over the United States and Israel on Monday, saying Tehran had prevented both countries from achieving their stated objectives in the conflict.
Ghalibaf said Iran had won the war “in the most literal sense of the word,” arguing that the US and Israel had failed to achieve any of the nine objectives they had publicly announced.
“I do not mean that we had destroyed the American and Zionist armies,” Ghalibaf said, according to Al Jazeera. He described the failure to achieve their objectives as the “absolute and biggest failure” for Washington and Israel.
His comments came as the 60-day period linked to the Islamabad memorandum of understanding was due to expire.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the memorandum did not contain a formal 60-day deadline.
He said the document only envisaged a 60-day period for discussions on sanctions relief and the nuclear issue. According to Baghaei, the period could have been extended if the sides failed to reach an agreement.
Baghaei said US actions had violated the memorandum and halted the discussions.
He also addressed the fate of three Iranian military pilots who went missing following an operation in Qatar in March. He said Iran would consider them captive while their status remained unclear.
Baghaei also rejected reports of a secret meeting between Iranian and US officials in Erbil.
He described the report as fabricated and said claims of a communication channel between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Washington through the Kurdistan Region were intended to create divisions within Iran’s leadership.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Trump said the agreement showed that Middle Eastern countries were moving toward greater cooperation on regional defence.
He described the agreement as a “big, bold, and important first step” and congratulated the leaders of the three countries.
Iran also criticised Canada over its participation in the US-led campaign against Tehran.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused Ottawa of supporting Washington despite what he described as US pressure on Canadian sovereignty.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously indicated that Canada was prepared to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued military operations in southern Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that Israeli troops opened fire with automatic weapons in a western neighbourhood of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district.
Israeli military vehicles were also reportedly seen moving inside the town.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry says thousands of people have been killed since Israel intensified its military campaign in the country in March.
Israeli forces also carried out further strikes in southern Lebanon, according to local media reports.
An airstrike reportedly targeted the outskirts of Al-Qantara, while Israeli artillery shelled Al-Mansouri. In Kafra, an explosive-laden drone reportedly struck a house, injuring two civilians.
Additional military activity was reported around several locations in southern Lebanon.
Local residents expressed concern that continued attacks could force people to leave their communities.
Israeli media reported that the Israeli military was preparing for the possibility of several days of fighting in Lebanon.
Channel 12 reported that the military was planning additional attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure. The report said Israeli officials were also attempting to balance military operations with US-mediated negotiations involving Lebanon.
Tensions have continued to rise along the Lebanese front despite repeated ceasefire arrangements and diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
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